Facial Synkinesis
Regain your smile, regain your confident
What is Facial Synkinesis?
Facial paralysis synkinesis involves abnormal synchronization of facial movements, leading to involuntary actions during voluntary movements of different muscle groups.
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Common signs include:
Narrowing of the eyes when smiling
Cheek lifting when closing eyes
Neck muscle tightening when whistling
Facial twitching and tightness
Formation of a deeper cheek crease
Consultation with a doctor is recommended for diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
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Symptoms may include:
Increased muscle tone on the affected side, requiring more effort to move muscles
Shortening and tightening of facial muscles, hindering expression
Linked facial movements due to poor insulation of recovering facial nerve
Coordination difficulties in facial movements
Various facial muscle patterns may be observed, such as challenges with eye closure or inappropriate smiling.
Other signs include chin dimpling, eye narrowing, increased spasms, and neck and cheek tightness.
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Preventing Synkinesis:
While synkinesis cannot be prevented, patients can adopt certain measures to mitigate its impact post-Bell’s palsy.
"Facial re-education" entails teaching patients various facial exercises to minimize synkinesis effects. These exercises involve actions like maintaining facial elevation while speaking and chewing with eyes open.
Treatment may span up to four months, focusing on gradual improvement in facial muscle coordination.
Synkinesis Treatment Options:
Synkinesis treatment encompasses three modalities: surgery, neuromuscular retraining, and Botox injections.
Treatment initiation post-diagnosis is feasible, even years after Bell’s palsy onset.
Selective neurolysis, or modified selective neurectomy, is a leading surgical.
It rectifies facial nerve "mis-wiring," enhancing smile symmetry and muscle coordination.
Other treatments include static suspension of mouth corners, blepharoplasty, and asymmetric facelifts.
Botox injections target overactive facial muscles, reducing synkinesis effects.
Physical Therapy and Neuromuscular Retraining:
These therapies emphasize coordinated facial muscle movements to combat synkinesis.
Manual massage and stretching alleviate muscle tension without stimulating muscle strengthening.
Exercises are predominantly home-based, with therapists providing personalized regimens.
Synkinesis Treatment Consultation with Dr. Boonipat:
A consultation entails comprehensive evaluation and personalized treatment planning by Dr. Boonipat.
Realistic recovery expectations are set, and patients receive detailed preparatory instructions for treatment.
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What is the difference between oral/maxillofacial surgeon and plastic surgeon?Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons have a dental background. They went to dental school prior to obtaining their training in maxillofacial surgery. The training involved dental implants, third molar removal, facial fractures, orthognathic surgery, and in some programs free flaps reconstruction for the head and neck. Plastic Surgeons goes to medical school prior to residency. In plastic surgery residency, the training does not involve dental implants, or third molar removal. It does involve facial fractures, orthognathic surgery, free flap reconstruction in the head and neck and the rest of the body. Plastic surgeons also have extensive training in facial aesthetics. Dr. Boonipat further his plastic surgery training with a concentrated fellowship in aesthetic jaw surgery in Taiwan. He is well qualified to address both your functional concerns by working with your orthodontist (braces/teeth doctor), and your aesthetic concerns because of his plastic surgery and fellowship training. In many cases, jaw surgery can be performed with other aesthetic procedures to improve your aesthetic outcome, all under one anesthesia. (See page on combined jaw surgery with rhinoplasty or combined jaw surgery with other facial cosmetic procedures.